FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - The University of Kentucky plans to resume in-person classes on its Lexington campus for the fall semester starting in August, the school’s president said Friday.
In an email message to the university community, UK President Eli Capilouto outlined plans to “reinvent normal” in the age of the coronavirus at the state’s flagship university. Four campus teams will develop strategies with the goal of having a final plan in place by mid-June, he said.
“To reach our goal, we must act quickly over the next month-and-half to reinvent or reimagine what is normal in the wake of this public health crisis,” Capilouto wrote.
It was another sign that the state is moving ahead with plans to gradually reopen commerce as well as in-person classes and worship services in the midst of the fight against the pandemic.
Gov. Andy Beshear reported 177 more cases Friday in Kentucky, bringing the statewide total to more than 4,870 cases since the pandemic began. The governor reported eight more virus-related deaths, bringing the total death count to at least 248 in Kentucky. More than 1,750 people in Kentucky have recovered from the virus, he said.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up within weeks. For some, especially older adults and those with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, even death.
Beshear called it a good sign that daily cases are holding steady as the state ramps up testing.
“This plateau is still good news,” he said during his daily briefing. “We still have a ways to go to defeat this virus. But the fact that you, Kentucky, have not only flattened the curve, you’ve cut the top off the muffin. You have truly saved so many lives. Keep it up.”
Beshear predicted that Kentucky will be able to scale-up testing capacity enough for nearly 30,000 tests weekly — a key variable as the state gradually reopens its economy.
“What we’re doing week-by-week right now compared to one month ago is the difference between night and day,” the governor said.
Beshear has announced plans for phased reopenings of businesses, factories and churches in May.
UK’s president stressed the importance of opening the Lexington campus. UK’s health care and research components also are working on restart plans, Capilouto said in his email message.
“The distinctive residential educational experience we provide at UK has attracted thousands of students from across Kentucky, the country and the globe,” Capilouto said. “That experience is critical for the future.”
Among the questions the campus planning teams will have to tackle: How to return to in-class instruction that must be complemented by digital instruction, he said.
“And, how do we do that within a reinvented normal, fully prepared to prevent, detect, manage, treat and contain COVID-19?” he said. “How do we make possible learning, healing and service for our entire community, including those who are at risk for serious illness?”
One of the teams will focus on increased screening, testing and tracing for the campus, he said.
In another sign the state is moving toward gradual reopenings, Kentucky’s chief justice said Friday he formed three task forces to plan how the courts will resume in-person services.
A Supreme Court justice will head each task force, one each for circuit, family and district courts, Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr. said. Judges and circuit clerks will serve as task force members.
“As Kentucky begins to gradually reopen business, the courts must prepare to do the same,” Minton said. “Although in-person services are suspended until May 31, our next priority is a reopening plan that respects social distancing while allowing greater access to the courts.”
Resumption of in-person court services will be done in a “limited, phased approach” to ensure the health of court personnel and the public, he said in an email to judicial branch employees.
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